Joseph Patterson Facing Life In Prison

The man accused of killing the son of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is now accused of another violent crime.

Joseph Patterson, 28, is charged with kidnapping and assaulting a Sioux Falls woman just before midnight Tuesday night.

The most recent arrest comes after his arrest last fall when Patterson allegedly assaulted his girlfriend's two-year-old son, Tyrese Ruffin. The unresponsive two-year-old was taken to the hospital in October and doctors determined his injuries were the result of an assault, not an accident.

On October 10, 2013, Patterson was arrested for the boy's injuries. Later that same day, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was spotted outside a Sioux Falls bar posing for pictures. He said he was in town on a personal matter. KELOLAND News later learned Peterson was in town to say good-bye to Ruffin before his biological son was taken off the respirator.

Patterson's father posted the $750,000 cash bond that was set after his arrest for Ruffin's death last fall.

Patterson is now facing life in prison after being accused of strangling a Sioux Falls woman to the point where she lost consciousness.

In court Wednesday afternoon, prosecutors said Patterson strangled the woman so severely that he left marks that are still visible on her neck. Patterson allegedly held the woman against her will for more than an hour Tuesday night.

"My office charged the defendant today with kidnapping first degree charge, which is a class C felony punishable by up to life in prison," Minnehaha County State's Attorney Aaron McGowan said after court.

McGowan said in court Wednesday that the woman's sister was able to call someone for help; that person then called police.

McGowan argued for a $1 million cash bond and that's where Judge Joni Cutler set it Wednesday afternoon.

"Based on the defendant's history and the seriousness of these charges, the court deemed it was appropriate based on that and that was the bond the state requested today," McGowan said.

Lincoln County State's Attorney Tom Wollman says he has filed a motion that revokes and forfeits the $750,000 bond that Patterson’s parents paid last fall. A judge still has to rule on whether to revoke the bond in the Lincoln County case.

Prosecutors said Wednesday afternoon that Patterson violated his no contact order with the victim even when he was behind bars when he tried to call her an hour before his court appearance on the new charges.